Catholic Church response to the Medjugorje apparitions

Various officials of the Catholic Church have been discerning the validity of alleged apparitions of Mary, the mother of Jesus in the Bosnian-Herzegovinian village of Medjugorje (Serbo-Croatian: Međugorje), known as Our Lady of Medjugorje, since they began on 24 June 1981. The Church has sought to provide guidance regarding the Marian apparitions to potential devotees and pilgrims. On 7 December 2017, Archbishop Henryk Hoser, Pope Francis' envoy to Medjugorje, announced that official pilgrimages are allowed, stating, "dioceses and other institutions can organize official pilgrimages."^[1] This pilgrimage was officially authorized by the Holy See in May 2019.^[2] The approval did not signify recognition of the apparitions, but was intended to acknowledge the faith and pastoral needs of the pilgrims. In August 2024, Pope Francis granted approval for devotions linked to Medjugorje: "The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, with the assent of Pope Francis, grants approval for devotion linked to Medjugorje, recognizing the abundant spiritual fruits received at the Sanctuary of the Queen of Peace without making a declaration on the supernatural character of the Marian apparitions."^[3]

Statue of Our Lady of Medjugorje.

Background

The Cross of Medjugorje

When Bosnia and Herzegovina became part of Austria-Hungary, Pope Leo XIII took steps to establish dioceses (1881) and appoint local bishops. This included transferring parishes administered until then by the Franciscans to diocesan clergy. The friars resisted, and in the 1940s Franciscan provinces still controlled 63 of 79 parishes in the dioceses of Vrhbosna and Mostar. In the 1970s, friars in Herzegovina formed an association of priests to encourage popular opposition to diocesan parish takeovers. A 1975 decree by Pope Paul VI, Romanis Pontificibus, ordered that Franciscans to withdraw from most of the parishes in the Diocese of Mostar-Duvno, retaining 30 and leaving 52 to the diocesan clergy. In the 1980s the Franciscans still held 40 parishes under the direction of 80 friars.^[4]

On 24 June 1981, six children in the town of Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina (then part of Yugoslavia), said they had seen an apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary and that these apparitions were continuing. The village began to attract pilgrims.

Local Ordinary

Bishop Pavao Žanić established the first two commissions for the ecclesiastical investigation of the alleged apparitions in Medjugorje.

On 11 January 1982, Pavao Žanić, Bishop of Mostar, within whose jurisdiction Medjugorje lay, established a commission to look into the matter.^[5] When three days later, on 14 January 1982, three of the seers told him that the "Madonna"^{[editorializing]} supported the Franciscans, Bishop Žanić began to be concerned that they were being guided more by their Franciscan advisors than by the Blessed Virgin.^[6]

In 1984 Bishop Žanić decided to extend a first Commission to study the apparitions and expanded its membership to fifteen: 12 priests and 3 medical experts. They held seven meetings in all. This second commission completed its work in May 1986. Eleven members determined that the events at Medjugorje were Non constat de supernaturalitate (i.e., apparitions are neither approved nor condemned, but further study is needed to determine whether a supernatural character is present). Žanić informed the Episcopal Conference of Yugoslavia and the Holy See.^[6]

Yugoslav Bishops Conference

With the possible breakup of Yugoslavia, many Croat church leaders saw the new Marian cult in Herzegovina as both an aid to anti-communist efforts and a potential focus for Croat nationalism in both Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.^[4] As the Medjugorje events had exceeded the scope of a local event, in January 1987, upon the suggestion of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Franjo Kuharić and Bishop Žanić made a joint communiqué in which they announced the formation of a third Commission under the direction of the Episcopal Conference of Yugoslavia. The bishops would both review the work of the previous commissions and conduct its own inquiry. The Conference instructed that pilgrimages should not be organized to Medjugorje on the supposition of its being supernatural.^[5] In July, Bishop Žanić forbade any priests who organized pilgrimages or came there ascribing a supernatural character to the events to celebrate Mass in his diocese, and this until the Commission of the Bishops' Conference completed its inquiry.

The Bishops' Conference of Yugoslavia, at their spring meeting in Zadar on April 10, 1991, issued declaration stating in an ecclesiastical ruling that: "(o)n the basis of studies it cannot be affirmed that supernatural apparitions and revelations are occurring."^[7][5]

Holy See

In response to an inquiry from a French bishop, in March 1996 then Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone, Secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith under Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (the future Pope Benedict XVI), stated that official pilgrimages to Medjugorje, if presumed as a place of authentic Marian apparitions, nor not permitted to be organized neither on the parish nor on the diocesan level. The following June, in response to reporters' questions, Joaquin Navarro-Valls, spokesman for Holy See Press Office, said that Archbishop Bertone was referring specifically to official pilgrimages. He also said that Catholic parishes and dioceses were not allowed to organize pilgrimages to Medjugorje, as that might have given the impression of a canonical endorsement.^[5]

In 1993 Bishop Žanić retired at the age of 75 and was succeeded by his coadjutor, Bishop Ratko Perić. On 2 October 1997, Perić wrote that he believed the events alleged at Medjugorje were no longer non constat de supernaturalitate (supernatural nature is not established) but constat de non supernaturalitate (not of a supernatural nature).^[8] In May 1998, in response to an inquiry from Gilbert Aubry, Bishop of Saint-Denis de La Réunion, Archbishop Bertone cited the previous 1991 finding of non constat de supernaturalitate by the Yugoslav Bishops Conference, and noted that since the division of Yugoslavia, jurisdiction now lay with the Episcopal Conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Bishop Perić's statement must be considered^{[according to whom?]} the expression of the personal view of the Bishop of Mostar, who, as Ordinary of the place, always has the right to express what is, and remains, his personal opinion.^{[9][editorializing]}

In 2009 Father Tomislav Vlasic, the former "spiritual director"^[tone] to the six visionaries was laicized at his own request by Pope Benedict XVI a year after he was placed under investigation over allegations that he exaggerated the apparitions and had engaged in sexual relations with a nun. Vlasic was under formal investigation for alleged "dubious doctrine, the manipulation of consciences, suspect mysticism and disobedience towards legitimately issued orders".^[10]

On 17 March 2010, the Holy See announced that, at the request of the bishops of Bosnia Herzegovina, it had established a commission, headed by Cardinal Camillo Ruini, to examine the Medjugorje phenomenon.^[11][12]

On 21 October 2013, the Apostolic Nunciature to the United States communicated, on behalf of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, that, in the light of the 1991 Zadar declaration about the Medjugorje events, Catholics, whether clergy or laypeople, "are not permitted to participate in meetings, conferences or public celebrations during which the credibility of such 'apparitions' would be taken for granted".^{[13][self-published source?]} The letter was sent to every diocese in the U.S. as Archbishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller, then-Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, wanted the U.S. bishops to be aware that Ivan Dragicevic, one of the "so-called visionaries"^{[tone][This quote needs a citation]} of Medjugorje, was scheduled to give presentations at parishes across the country and was anticipated to have more apparitions during these talks. Because the commission established in 2010 was still in the process of its investigation, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith determined that the judgment of the Yugoslavian bishops which precluded such gatherings remain in force.^{[13][as of?]}

On 18 January 2014, the Holy See commission set up in 2010 to study the Medjugorje question was reported to have completed its work, the results of which it would communicate to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.^[14]

On 6 June 2015, Pope Francis, referring to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, told reporters "we've reached the point of making a decision and then they will say."^[15]

On 11 February 2017, Pope Francis named Bishop Henryk Hoser of Warszawa-Praga in Poland as his special envoy to Medjugorje, not to investigate the veracity of the apparitions but to evaluate the pastoral situation in Medjugorje and assess how the needs of pilgrims should best be met.^[16] Archbishop Hoser said "If Marian devotion has flourished in Medjugorje, if such multitudes arrive there, it is therefore a place where veneration will continue, since Our Lady can be venerated everywhere…^[17]

Prior to Hoser's review, pilgrimages to Medjugorje organized by official Church groups were discouraged, although people could make them privately or through pilgrimage tour groups. Having completed his assessment, Hoser announced that the previous impediment had been lifted. "Today, dioceses and other institutions can organize official pilgrimages. It's no longer a problem…I am full of admiration for the work the Franciscans are doing there…With a relatively small team—there is only a dozen of them—they do a huge job of welcoming pilgrims." He also said "The decree of the former episcopal conference of what used to be Yugoslavia, which, before the Balkan war, advised against pilgrimages in Medjugorje organized by bishops, is no longer relevant."^[1] Cardinal Francis Arinze argued that Mary has not appeared at every shrine dedicated to her, citing as an example the Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida in Brazil. "So it is a shrine, and whether she appeared there or not is a secondary question…She doesn't have to appear there to give grace."^[18]

Official position of the Church

Until such time as the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith releases its findings, the 1991 determination of the Yugoslav Bishops Conference of non constat de supernaturalitate ("It is undetermined at this time if it is of supernatural origin") stands, and the Holy See considers this judgment still operative.^[19] Traditionally, there have been one of three determinations with regard to private revelation:

1. Constat de supernaturalitate (Determined to be supernatural) (approved)
2. Non constat de supernaturalitate (Not determined to be supernatural) (Neither approved or condemned - not determined - neutral)
3. Constat de non supernaturalitate (Determined not to be supernatural) (condemned)

Until such time as the Holy See commission's findings are revealed and approved by the pope, the "not determined" ruling remains in effect.^{[as of?]}

A commission on Medjugorje established in 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI and chaired by Cardinal Camillo Ruini reportedly^{[clarification needed]} voted 13–1 to confirm the supernatural origin of the first seven occurrences of the apparition.^[20][21] In addition, Commission members also voted to recommend lifting the Holy See ban on official diocesan and parish pilgrimages to Medjugorje and for turning the town's parish St. James Church into a pontifical shrine under Holy See oversight.^[20] The move, the commission said, would not signify recognition of the apparitions, but would acknowledge the faith and pastoral needs of the pilgrims while ensuring a proper accounting of donations.

Pope Francis also mentioned that The Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, which reviewed the Ruini report and other material to which it was privy, expressed doubts about both the phenomenon and the Ruini report.^[20] The final decision will be made by the Pope^{[needs update]} after Polish Archbishop Henryk Hoser has completed his examination of the pastoral situation in Medjugorje.^[21]

In a 19 Sept 2024 report in Crux, senior correspondent Elise Allen wrote details including reference to a new 20 page Vatican document can be followed up in the footnote.^{[22][further explanation needed][promotion?]}

The online document published on 20 Sept 2024 by the Vatican's Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith is now readily available.^{[23][further explanation needed]}

Official authorization of pilgrimage

On May 12, 2019, Pope Francis authorized pilgrimages to Medjugorje. According to Vatican News, these pilgrimages can "be officially organized by dioceses and parishes," while maintaining the Non constat de supernaturalitate (supernaturality has not yet been determined).^[2] In a press conference, Alessandro Gisotti, thenad interim director of the Holy See Press Office, said that "Considering the considerable flow of people who go to Medjugorje and the abundant fruits of grace that have sprung from it."^[2] The first sanctioned pilgrimage then took place for five days from August 2–6, 2019. During the pilgrimage, approximately 60,000 young Catholics from 97 countries took part in the celebration of the Medjugorje International Youth Festival. Fourteen archbishops and bishops and about 700 Catholic priests attended as well.^[24]

Gian Franco Svidercoschi, who co-wrote the book Gift and Mystery with Pope John Paul II, and others,^[who?] suggests that the Church has drawn a distinction between the "apparitions"^{[editorializing]} and Medjugorje as a place of prayer.^[25] The general position seems^{[to whom?]} to be that the spiritual fruits are undeniable.^[26][25]

See also

• Catholicism portal
• History portal
• Vatican City portal

• Our Lady of Medjugorje
• Radio Maria